Jeremiah 33:7

And I will cause the captivity of Judah and the captivity of Israel to return, and will build them, as at the first.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(7, 8) I . . . will build . . . I will cleanse . . . I will pardon . . .—The vision of the return of the exiles and of a restored city, prominent in Jeremiah 31:38-40, is not allowed to overshadow the yet more glorious vision of spiritual blessings of purity and pardon.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

33:1-13 Those who expect to receive comforts from God, must call upon him. Promises are given, not to do away, but to quicken and encourage prayer. These promises lead us to the gospel of Christ; and in that God has revealed truth to direct us, and peace to make us easy. All who by sanctifying grace are cleansed from the filth of sin, by pardoning mercy are freed from the guilt. When sinners are thus justified, washed, and sanctified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Holy Spirit, they are enabled to walk before God in peace and purity. Many are led to perceive the real difference between the people of God and the world around them, and to fear the Divine wrath. It is promised that the people who were long in sorrow, shall again be filled with joy. Where the Lord gives righteousness and peace, he will give all needful supplies for temporal wants; and all we have will be comforts, as sanctified by the word and by prayer.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

At the first - i. e., before their sins had provoked God to anger.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

7. cause … to return—that is, reverse (Jer 33:11; Jer 32:44). The specification, both of "Judah" and "Israel," can only apply fully to the future restoration.

as at the first—(Isa 1:26).

Matthew Poole's Commentary

In this verse the latter part is expounded by the former: the restoring of them is called building them, in opposition to the throwing them down, by the mounts mentioned Jeremiah 33:4; unless by building be to be understood not laying the foundation of their new state, but the further prospering of them in that state.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And I will cause the captivity of Judah and the captivity of Israel to return,.... Mention being made of the return of the captivity of Israel, or the ten tribes, as well as that of Judah, shows that this prophecy does not relate to the return of the Jews from their seventy years' captivity in Babylon; but is to be understood spiritually, of a release of the mystical and spiritual Israel of God from the captivity of sin, Satan, and the law, by the Messiah:

and will build them as at the first; in the latter day, as at the beginning or first times of the Gospel; when the temple of the Lord was built by Christ, as the chief master builder, and by his apostles under him, upon himself, the foundation of the apostles and prophets; he being the corner stone of it, whereby it became a habitation for God through the Spirit. Since that time, by means of heretics and false teachers, and especially by the man of sin, the tabernacle of David, or church of Christ, is greatly fallen into ruin, and needs rebuilding and repairing; and this will be done; and then it will be a beautiful structure, as at the first, or as it was in the times of the apostles; see Acts 15:16.

Geneva Study Bible

And I will cause the captivity of Judah and the captivity of Israel to return, and will build them, as at the first.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

7. as at the first] as in former times (those of the undivided kingdom).

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 7. - I will cause the captivity... to return (see on Jeremiah 29:14). Will build them (see on Jeremiah 31:14). Jeremiah 33:7

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

The attainment of this prosperity consists in the change of the wretchedness and misery of Judah and Israel (the whole covenant people) into permanent happiness, and their being built up - i.e., the firm establishment of their civil prosperity through the secure possession and enjoyment of the good things of the land - as in the beginning, i.e., the time previous to the rending of the state through the falling away of the people into idolatry; cf. Isaiah 1:26; 1 Kings 13:6. For השׁיב את see Jeremiah 32:44.